Chiropractor or osteopath?

[Hugh Manatee]

My own little anecdote. I am from Totnes, (a town full of alternative therapies and hippies) and am therefore very sceptical of that whole shebang.

We visit my parents who still live down there and made a trip in my new company car earlier this year. The car (a Mercedes) and I really aren't that well suited. It is low, hard and rigid. I keep banging my head on the roof and I find the seating uncomfortable.

Indeed I was in that much pain by the time we arrived, I honestly couldn't see a way of how I would get home again. My mum (senior hippy) insisted she try to get me in to see the local osteopath. I really didn't want to but in the end had to agree.

It was weird but after a short while the session ended and I was able to drive home. I have since found a more comfortable setting on the car. I really felt things move in my lower back during the session.

I think it depends what is wrong. I suppose the clue is in the name? If you have muscular damage I can't see what I had helping at all. I have always been horribly inflexible. I have never been able to touch my toes despite having the arms of a gibbon! The bloke even wrote on my notes I was an inflexible freak.

This is my experience. I sort of knew I hadn't got damaged muscles so went for it as a last resort. I was surprised at the difference it made.

I won't be trying healing crystals any time soon though!

 

[vickster]

I had Reiki once, just walked out thinking wtf and all light headed from lying on the floor! Friend of mine swears by it though but for mental relaxation rather than physical ails

Soft tissue / muscle spasms, definitely a sports physio. As I said, acupunture worked really well for me for a back spasm, not really helped for any length of time with other tendon issues

 

[T4tomo]

Oesteopaths aren't that different from a sports physio in a lot of areas. They do focus a bit more on lining things uo, gently.

Chiropractors tend to yank things around and I'd stay well clear. I've known people who use them, can be jnstant relief, but then back to how it was in 6 months. I've used an oestio for a few things and it tends to stay fixed. I'll also use a sports physio every now and again as I'm prone to muscle tightness inmy back anyway

 

[vickster]

Yes they are - if your CCG commissions services from them, which a number of CCGs do.

Fair enough.
I actually use Bupa for all my physio having been told there's an 8-12 week wait locally on the NHS for an initial assessment!
I don't know whether Bupa covers other practitioners if referred by GP/specialist

 

[vickster]

Oesteopaths aren't that different from a sports physio in a lot of areas. They do focus a bit more on lining things uo, gently.

Chiropractors tend to yank things around and I'd stay well clear. I've known people who use them, can be jnstant relief, but then back to how it was in 6 months. I've used an oestio for a few things and it tends to stay fixed. I'll also use a sports physio every now and again as I'm prone to muscle tightness inmy back anyway

My issues tend to stem from soft tissue tightness, inflammation and tears, rather than wonky bones, hence preferring physio/sports massage

 

[vickster]

Thanks. No one has ever referred me to one, although I'm sure my GP would if I asked. Physio needed at mo for post op muscle tightness

 

[bozmandb9]

... or see a real health care professional

If you're trying to imply that a Doctor would be more appropriate, I can only roll on floor laughing. GP's in my experience are of no use whatsoever in any case of sports injury, muscular pain or the like. You can save yourself a trip, talk to yourself in the mirror, just say rest for a few days, and take some painkillers. Only reason to see a GP is if you want stronger painkillers on prescription.

In my view, it doesn't matter if you see a chiropracter or osteopath, more important is whether they are any good. What you're after is a professional in physiology, somebody who can identify what the problem is, and what is causing it, then give you a solution, to start dealing with the issue. Obviously if they discover any indication of any serious issue which needs to be dealt with by doctors, they will tell you this (or face the risk of losing their licence/ business).

To give you one example, I saw my GP with excruciating pain in my big toe, which was making it extremely painful to walk. My GP told me to take strong anti-inflammatory painkillers, rest and elevate the toe, take weeks off from training. The next day I saw a sports injury specialist. They investigated, and found that I had a muscle in spasm in my calf, which was pulling through to the end of the toe, causing the painful compression and resulting in swelling.

On treating the cause, which was basically using a hockey ball to self massage the calf very deep, and releasing the trigger points, the problem disappeared. I was able to do my sprint training that evening. Should I have stuck with the advice of my 'health care professional', and just taken painkillers and rested, without doing anything to address the cause?

 

[vickster]

I think he may have meant a physio

GPs good for referrals (which I need for BUPA) If self paying, not needed, although a physio may want a letter from your GP/specialist

 

[Justinslow]

So just came out from my appointment with the sports physio. Lots of paperwork and background first then some stretches to see where I'm at. Then on the table, it seems like @vickster its mostly muscle damage, basically I'm extremely stiff! Spine seems ok from all the pointers but she did recommend seeing an osteopath to be safe and make sure there is no spine issue as they do specific "opening up" of areas around the spine to "release it" which is fair comment. All the massage and stretches pointed to particularly bad/tight/stiff areas around my groin and pelvis area, can't remember all the names of the muscles but pretty much all weren't great!
Looks like I've got to get a handle on some new stretches as I've got lazy and try to think of them more in a three dimensional way not just 2d like I've been doing.
Overall impressed, £35 for hour and three quarters (we over ran and lots of formalities) and I feel like I'm heading in the right direction. She really seemed to know her stuff and being a triathlete can relate to cycling.
Booked to go again next Tuesday after Ride London.
Cheers for all the replies.

 

[Markymark]

Now drink lots of water and take it easy.

 

[Justinslow]

Now drink lots of water and take it easy.

Yeah she said to take it easy this afternoon.
I think this is all pointing to the 5 hill repeats I did out of the saddle, something I don't usually do, I tend to remain seated, but this particular hill is really tough in the saddle and you really need to get over the front of the bike and power through it. My own fault, just overdone it and didn't work up to it. 5 repeats was just too much.

 

[screenman]

Yeah she said to take it easy this afternoon.
I think this is all pointing to the 5 hill repeats I did out of the saddle, something I don't usually do, I tend to remain seated, but this particular hill is really tough in the saddle and you really need to get over the front of the bike and power through it. My own fault, just overdone it and didn't work up to it. 5 repeats was just too much.

Did she adjust your saddle

 

[Markymark]

Yeah she said to take it easy this afternoon.
I think this is all pointing to the 5 hill repeats I did out of the saddle, something I don't usually do, I tend to remain seated, but this particular hill is really tough in the saddle and you really need to get over the front of the bike and power through it. My own fault, just overdone it and didn't work up to it. 5 repeats was just too much.

Used to do TWD, now a fair amount of cycling. I'd rather need the odd visit from doing stuff than never need it from sitting around all day.

 

[ufkacbln]

My own little anecdote. I am from Totnes, (a town full of alternative therapies and hippies) and am therefore very sceptical of that whole shebang.

We visit my parents who still live down there and made a trip in my new company car earlier this year. The car (a Mercedes) and I really aren't that well suited. It is low, hard and rigid. I keep banging my head on the roof and I find the seating uncomfortable.

Indeed I was in that much pain by the time we arrived, I honestly couldn't see a way of how I would get home again. My mum (senior hippy) insisted she try to get me in to see the local osteopath. I really didn't want to but in the end had to agree.

It was weird but after a short while the session ended and I was able to drive home. I have since found a more comfortable setting on the car. I really felt things move in my lower back during the session.

I think it depends what is wrong. I suppose the clue is in the name? If you have muscular damage I can't see what I had helping at all. I have always been horribly inflexible. I have never been able to touch my toes despite having the arms of a gibbon! The bloke even wrote on my notes I was an inflexible freak.

This is my experience. I sort of knew I hadn't got damaged muscles so went for it as a last resort. I was surprised at the difference it made.

I won't be trying healing crystals any time soon though!

My solicitor refused to let me sign the contract on my house as the crystal she waved over it wasn't radiating positive energy

Had to go back the following day

 

[Markymark]

My solicitor refused to let me sign the contract on my house as the crystal she waved over it wasn't radiating positive energy

Had to go back the following day

Are you serious? And you thought is was a good idea to use her services?